Lynds in Real Life

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Health

3 Things to Know About Going Cold Turkey

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You’ve probably heard the term, ‘going cold turkey.’ But, do you know what it means? It’s quite normal to think that it means to drop something completely and suddenly. In a way, it does mean that, but it’s generally more specific. Going cold turkey is both a physical and mental adjustment to your behavior. This takes courage, commitment, and knowledge on how to do it properly. Some people think it doesn’t work that you have to slowly get off something. You can’t just suddenly stop smoking 40 cigarettes a day, you have to go to 30, then 20, and so on. Whereas others say, if done correctly, anyone can go cold turkey successfully. Let’s explore the various methods.

It Can Be Harmful

For various conditions, you can’t just suddenly go cold turkey. For example, if you are addicted to alcohol, going cold turkey can be extremely painful and dangerous. It can be harmful to your body because your body has gotten so used to using alcohol as its main source of energy. Your body has had to shift its entire system to do this and if you suddenly stop, it can put you into shock. So, instead, you should use an alcohol detox service that slowly but surely rids your body of its dependency on alcohol. It will be done safely and with professional help. Not to mention, you will also have access to mental health support. There is a timeline of withdrawal that you should learn more about to help you identify the symptoms you may be experiencing.

Is It Mental?

Sometimes, you have to go cold turkey to realize that some of the issues are actually related to your mentality or mental health. If you’re a stress eater, you’ll notice that if you find some other way to cope with the stress, that food isn’t the problem itself. It’s your brain’s view of food that causes food addiction and possibly eating disorders. You may think that food is comforting because it makes you feel good. Harmful fatty, sugary and salty foods are the main types which we turn to. These may be things like french fries, burgers, pizza, and candy (the yummy foods, am I right?).

However, if you were to replace this food with healthy foods that you can eat readily, you may find that you turn a corner. You could try avocado dip, and replace the bread or chips you eat with some kind of bread replacement, like a carb-free cracker. 

Why Does It Work?

Sometimes, going cold turkey works because your body might just be ready for a change. If you drink a lot of soda, your body is constantly trying to balance the sugar levels. Going cold turkey by not drinking any soda at all will allow your body to balance itself again. This is something that also makes you feel good. If it makes you feel good then you know that the change you have made is the right one. You won’t have headaches, you won’t be fidgeting, and you can feel like you don’t need to rely on it.

Going cold turkey can sometimes work, but it might be dangerous for the wrong kind of issue. If you feel like you want to make a change, this is just one technique you can try.

Thank you for reading!

Health

Where To Turn When You’re Battling Addiction

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Being alive and coping through day-to-day life can be a constant battle, and for a lot of people, it is not merely a matter of putting on a brave face, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and facing the day head-on. As we have come to learn, many people turn to addictive substances to help ease their emotional, psychical, and psychological pain. This problem is endemic in our society. Many do not have or know for that matter, the resources for not only gaining the help they need in rehabilitation but to help them cope in a world that turned them to drugs, to begin with. 

Addiction Recovery / Healingproperties.org

Whilst many people from all walks of life suffer from addiction, and their needs should not go unnoticed, the largest group affected by this are veteran soldiers. Many have returned from years of service, struggling through the worst horrors imaginable and carrying the traumas of war with little in the way of support. Many find employment after service impossible and many develop these addictions during their time in the service. With little support and little in the way of employment, it is no wonder this group is so massively affected by issues of substance abuse. 

The problem is wider-reaching with many groups being affected by similarly destructive behaviors. It’s not hard to feel sympathetic for these people and if you know anyone in your life that suffers from this, you know how painful it can be to go through. Treatment is hard to find and finding effective help is even harder. There are many bodies and institutes designed for this very kind of rehabilitation, however, the AAC or the American Addiction Centers claim to be the leading provider of inpatient substance use treatment services. Their work ranges from alcohol abuse to suicide awareness to tips to manage anxiety. 

This year with the COVID-19 crisis, the amount of people suffering from depression and anxiety has increased tenfold. And no wonder, with everyone stuck in their homes, many losing their support network or limiting the one little amount they had. It is not hard to see why people turn to these coping mechanisms in order to alleviate the stresses of an already stressful world. Combating these vices may be hard and many of us are fortunate enough not to have to face these struggles but for those that are there is help out there. Places like The AAC are here to help you if you find yourself in a position where you are struggling with addiction and cannot cope. Their Instagram page features a wealth of inspirational and useful posts many of which being videos of conversations with professionals as well as former addicts, stats, statistics, and helpful links to their articles. 

If you’re currently facing a battle such as this, their page is highly worth checking out. Finding help should be a priority and not something to feel shameful of or shy away from; it is a matter of urgency and there are people out there willing to help. 

Thank you for reading!

Health

In Our Right Mind: Getting Free From Addiction Using The Right Tools

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Suffering from any addiction is crippling in the mind and body. When we suffer a problem that we can’t appear to overcome, is it about mind over matter? Our mindset has a lot to do with overcoming any obstacle in life, but can we use this to break free from addiction? When we have numerous bad habits in life, from biting our nails to smoking cigarettes, it’s mostly about the power our brain has. So does this mean we’ve got to put our brain into gear to get over some sort of addiction? It appears so, right? How can we use our mindset, or acquire one to ensure that we put a stop to an addiction that is harming us?

Assessing Our Current Mindset

The big problem that we have in terms of addiction is that we stand in our own way. Maybe we don’t have the ability to admit that we’ve got a problem. As is the usual procedure, when we need help, it has to be us that instigates the fact that we need some sort of support. By assessing our current mindset, it could very well be done independently. When it comes to quitting something, we have to look at which mindset we currently have. Tolerance is one of those mindsets that are connected with addiction. It’s a physical and psychological process. But what happens is, when a behavior is repeated, you become less sensitive to something. You develop a physical or mental tolerance. And on the flip side, we experience withdrawal, either in physical or mental symptoms. And it’s these two things that can get in the way of truly addressing our addiction.

Looking At Our Fixed Mindset

If we have a fixed mindset, this provides a major obstacle to overcoming any addiction. It’s about being immovable on a subject. We may embody a fixed mindset in a very black and white way. For example, if we fall off the wagon, we consider ourselves to be a failure. We may feel our abilities right now determine that they cannot be moved. This is something that provides a major barrier to overcoming any form of problem in our minds, not just addiction. Once we start to establish that we have a fixed mindset and that these things can be moved, this is when we can start to make progress.

Establishing A Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is all about progression. In a simple way, it’s about positivity, but having a growth mindset allows you to progress forward. In a biochemical sense, it can help to create extra neural pathways. It’s all about this idea of habit. We’ve learned new habits throughout our life, but it’s about breaking the ones that don’t help us. Sometimes it’s by assimilation; we could go to a group therapy practice, or involve ourselves in a sober living community so we are influenced by others that are going through the same issues. Because we stand in our own way of success, when we see others undergoing the same problems, or are just far along in the recovery process as us, it’s humbling, but it’s also a perfect way to provide stimulation and motivation. A growth mindset is vital for recovery, and it’s something that can be harnessed. Counseling is one approach; especially with counselors who provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Developing New Thoughts

Because we have specific thought patterns that we may think are fixed, this is what will lead to a more negative mindset. Issues like a self-fulfilling prophecy, negative opinions of oneself will begin to cloud our judgment. A growth mindset is not just about training yourself in terms of new thought processes; it’s about undertaking the right practices that will help you on the road to recovery. This could very well be about getting rid of certain pressures in life. It could be through social situations, or friends that are a bad influence on you. Once we start to liberate ourselves of our old thought patterns, we can begin new thoughts, and grow to become a completely different person.

Making It Work Together

Naturally, all of these things are fantastic in theory, but can be difficult in practice. The most important piece of information that we can all learn in life is that it takes as long as it takes. When we are learning a new skill, or overcoming a dependency on something, we’ve got to break free of the antiquated notion that we are “limited.” That there’s only so much we can accomplish. Time and time again, it’s been shown that the mind and body are more than able to overcome obstacles, either by highlighting the effect that neuroplasticity has on our brains, or the fact that our body is a machine, and was built for physically demanding situations. When it comes to making all of this work together, it is mind and body, but also spirit. Whether you are religious or not is beside the point; once we equip ourselves with the tools, it’s about making it all work together according to what we want.

Like they say in rehab facilities, “we provide the tools, but it’s down to you to make sense of them.” Nobody can hold our hand through a unique problem like addiction, because we are suffering from it in our own heads. We can ask for help and guidance, and we can be given the tools, but it’s down to us to make it all work. Learning as much information as possible about overcoming something, disregarding the irrelevant tools, and making the most of the relevant ones can be a lengthy practice; but it’s all about ensuring that you are going in the right direction.

Is It Mind Over Matter?

It’s such an antiquated expression, but it is mind over matter when we have the tools at our disposal. Getting “over” an addiction isn’t about taking a magic pill. Addiction is something that can stay with us long after the physical symptoms have gone. This means that we have to develop a sense of inner strength, but also equip ourselves with all the necessary information and tactics. In this respect, it is mind over matter.

•Have you struggled with an addiction? How were you able to overcome it?

•If you’re still struggling with addiction, what are some tools that would help you be successful in breaking that addiction?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

Self-Care is Not Selfish

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There are times in everyone’s life when you realize you just can’t do it all. Maybe you feel overwhelmed with the sheer weight of responsibility resting on your shoulders, or maybe issues that have haunted you since childhood threaten to sink you.

You might be experiencing some mental health or physical problems brought on by a mix of anxiety and exhaustion (cough me cough), or maybe something is happening in your life and you’re in need of some help. It can be overwhelming to ask for help. But it’s important to do it. With luck, you’ll be able to reach out to someone who can lend a supportive and listening ear and help you find practical solutions to your problems. A friend or family member might be able to help with your day-to-day struggles and relieve some of the pressure on you. For some, a therapist might be essential and incredibly beneficial.

For others, and for whatever reason, this might not be possible, and that’s where we step in. In this blog post, we’re going to look at some of the more well known self-help and self-care books that will provide you with some new ways of thinking and some guidance on facing up and coping with the issues going on in your life right now.

They are by no means exhaustive, and if you’re still struggling with your current situation, you must contact your doctor and let them know what’s going on and seek immediate professional help. Trust me, the possible “embarrassment” of seeking a professional (which is NOTHING to be embarrassed about) is nothing compared to dealing with mental illness alone.

 

Image courtesy of Pixabay

 

Self-Care

When there’s so much going on that you either forget or choose not to take care of yourself, then I suggest listening to this audiobook: The Self-Care Project by Jayne Hardy. This guide will give you the low down on letting go of some the things that threaten to overwhelm us and give some much needed time over to taking care of our health, cleanliness, and nutrition.

It’s a no-nonsense tool that makes it clear why self-care is much more than a buzzword and how making time for it in your life will lead to a calmer, happier, less stressed you (we all need that, right?)!

If you prefer something you can read, then try the book “Remember This When You’re Sad”, a great read by author Maggy van Eijk, who explores how you can turn around your negative relationship with yourself into one of self-care and compassion. Van Eijk recounts stories from her own life and her struggles with mental health, and offers advice like a friend, making this book accessible and undaunting.

(affiliate link)

 

Decluttering

Decluttering might seem like a very small issue in comparison to the weighty topic of self-care, but in fact the two are very closely linked. The problem with clutter is that it leads to more clutter, and very soon you feel like you wouldn’t even know where to start in keeping your living spaces clean and hygienic. This feeling of not being able to cope often leads to depression and anxiety, and that’s where Marie Kondo comes in.

Kondo has written four books, such as “The Life Changing Magic Of Tidying Up”, and her practice has changed lives. She is practical and she is ruthless. It might take time to go through everything, but you will, and when you’re finished, you’ll have thrown away everything in your life that does not spark joy and you will be left with exactly what you need.

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If you haven’t watched Tidying Up on Netflix, you should. Sometimes it may seem silly, but it’s a really great method! And Marie Kondo is super cute and relatable.

 

Dealing With Depression And Anxiety

There will be times where you’ll need to seek medical help for depression and/or anxiety, particularly if you have underlying health problems. With that in mind, it’s extremely important to not self-medicate, but rather get the guidance of a healthcare professional (whether it’s a Western medicine doctor or holistic).

However, if you experience depression and anxiety from time to time (and not every single day) and are looking for ways to manage it, then these guides could help you out.

“The Worry Trick” a book written by David A Carbonell, explores in depth why your brain is prone to anxiety, and assuming the worst and what can be done to combat those thoughts.

For those who suffer with the milder end of depression, you could check out “Feeling Good” by David D Burns. This book is considered something of a classic and takes the reader through a series of activities and exercises that mimic real life therapy sessions.

 

Body Positivity

If your current set of circumstances are centered around your body view (definitely me), then you might like to explore some books that will help you to create a more positive view of yourself.

In “The Goddess Revolution: Make Peace With Food, Love Your Body, And Reclaim Your Life” by Mel Wells, the author explains how to stop with the yo-yo dieting and fads and start living a life free from dysfunctional relationships with food and exercise.

If you’re after a classic read on the subject, then consider reading “The Beauty Myth” by Naomi Wolf, who explores how and why concepts of beauty in society have been harnessed against women to keep them oppressed.

(affiliate link)

 

Addiction

Whether you’re just starting on your road to recovery or you’re a little further down the line, there are a number of reads out there that will give you that extra bit of support that you need to encourage you forward into sobriety. From “MAKING FRIENDS IN SOBRIETY: A GUIDE TO FRIENDSHIP AS A SOBER ADULT” to “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions” from one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. The path to sobriety from an addiction, whether to alcohol, gambling, or drugs, requires the support of friends and family to stay healthy.

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For anyone supporting someone going through the process, you might also want to read “Codependent’s Guide To The Twelve Steps” by Beverly Conyers who talks through the action of recovery and how family members can cope when relapses do occur. She also helps families and friends manage their expectations around recovery and provide support for everyone involved in the process.

 

Getting Ahead

If you’re struggling to find motivation at work and feel yourself slipping further and further down the career ladder, you might benefit from some tips to help you find traction in your professional life and see your job prospects improve at the same time.

“Strategize To Win” by Carla A Harris gives you the lowdown on how to figure out what’s holding you back and how to plan to become unstuck. As the Vice Chairman at Morgan Stanley, Harris knows a thing or two about achieving success and recommends five year plans to create career success.

Dorie Kind offers her marketing insights on reinventing your brand in her book “Reinventing You.” She lays out how to sell yourself, change your career, and shape how others see you in this exciting read.

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When you want to get ahead in life but aren’t really sure what’s holding you back, you’ll want to read Jen Sincero’s book:  “You Are A Badass.” I LOVE this book! It’s a book about self-help for those who profess that they don’t need self-help, and this read will help you wring the absolute most of life. It teaches the art of stepping over fear into adventure and creating self-belief. This, combined with tips on changing up your career and making some serious money, will give anyone lacking confidence plus a job they love the boost they need to make some serious changes.

 

Connecting

Are you failing to connect in friendships as well as romantically? It might be that you just need a little help to get your social and emotional intelligence on point.

Try listening to “The Charisma Myth” by Olivia Fox Cabane as an audiobook. In this audio, she explores the idea that anyone can learn the science behind being charismatic and appearing interesting, and offers some practical steps to achieve this status.

If you prefer a paperback, take a look at Leil Lowndes’ “How To Talk To Anyone”, a book packed full with 92 tricks to help you with small talk, body language, and creating a great rapport.

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If you’re seeking love and want to figure out why you keep landing the wrong one, then give “Deeper Dating” by Ken Page a go. Rather than trying to overwhelm you with tips on how to flirt or what to wear or say during a date, this book looks at how to make deeper connections and grow intimacy into something that blossoms into a healthy and functioning relationship.

Whatever you’re looking for and whatever it is that you’re going through, recognize that you deserve to feel better and you deserve to find the answers that you’re looking for.

Read around and find lifestyle bloggers and specialists that will add positivity to your life and not place you in a position of comparing yourself to others. Ditch anything, from social media to real life friends, who choose to keep you weighed down with negativity and their own issues.

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If you’re not sure where to start, begin by adding a few mindfulness techniques in your life that will help to center and focus you, and start the process of what to tackle first. Try deep breathing or guided meditation; anything that will help you gain a calmer mind, and be ready to make those big changes.

  • In what ways do you practice self-care?
  • What’s a new method of self-care that you’d like to take on?
This post was a collaboration.

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Bipolar Disorder Fitness Nutrition Personal

After An Entire Year, My Mindset Is Finally In Alignment

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I have so much excitement and happiness, I don’t even know where to begin! The past year has been wonderful, but very rough. I moved to Los Angeles from Cleveland in February 2013, and the life event threw me into the worst bipolar depression I have ever experienced. It hit me hard at the end of April/beginning of May 2013. I barely left my apartment for five months. I laid on our mattress.. in my living room.. on the floor.. in the AC.. with the blinds closed.. for FIVE MONTHS. I watched 14 seasons of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. That takes serious dedication (to my living room floor).

During this time, I didn’t care about my physical health. When my mental health is that messy, it’s hard for me to even shower (my boyfriend can vouch for this). As hard as it was to admit, I gained a lot of weight. I ate the worst possible foods, and my addiction to soda showed up again (I had given it up for good that past December).

consumes your mind quote

Fast forward to today. I read somewhere that our mindset needs to be in alignment with our nutrition plan, or we won’t stick to it. Well, guess what? My mindset is finally in alignment with my goals! Oh my gosh, it feels SO good! I have had a serious sugar addiction that seemed almost impossible to get through. I’m currently detoxing and withdrawing from sugar, and these are the symptoms I am experiencing right now:

  • itchy ears (how weird, right?!)
  • itchy eyes
  • sinus congestion (immune system becomes suppressed)
  • severe migraine (withdrawal is no joke, I have no idea how I’m even looking at a computer screen lol)
  • hives

But it is worth it. Because these symptoms will eventually go away, and I am finally able to not have soda! I’m finally able to not have chocolate, or ice cream, or grains, or refined sugars/carbs. Yeah, it’s still challenging, but my mind is so clear on my goals that I am able to not have those things! I so badly want to be healthy. I want my digestive issues (candida, leaky gut, etc) to be better. I want to lose this weight (not necessarily to look better, but to feel better). I want to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) this year. I want to be able to somewhat control my moods and emotions.

I posted this status on Facebook yesterday:

“It’s an amazing thing, when you REALLY start to pay attention to how certain foods affect your body. Something that is healthy for one individual may not be as healthy for another individual. I always ate what I perceived to be “healthy” and never truly paid attention to how my body was affected by it. This is why one “diet” (diet meaning what you eat.. the actual meaning of the word) is not best for everyone. I follow mostly a paleo diet, however there are certain paleo-approved foods that I cannot have (and certain non-paleo foods I can have). Tailor your diet/nutrition to whatever fuels YOUR body best.”

Life is completely different when you learn to eat for your health, as opposed to weight loss. When you learn how to have a sustainable diet (again, diet meaning what we eat). I am even learning how to cook and enjoying it! I have never liked cooking haha.

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I am loving my Practical Paleo and 21-Day Sugar Detox cookbooks from Balanced Bites! I used them to make dinner for my boyfriend yesterday (which he loved!). *Side note: the 21-Day Sugar Detox comes in two parts: the cookbook and the guide book.

I am learning to love my body and myself each and every day. People who say “I’ll be happy when I am this weight.. this size.. this wealthy..” and so on, those people will not find happiness. Not authentically, anyway. I used to be one of them. But we get to live in the moment, and love ourselves every single day, as we are.

self love yoga

Photo of me at a self-love yoga session with my friend & mentor Elyse

So my point of all this is that it feels so good to have my mindset on track after an entire year! I cannot stress enough how important it is to practice self-love and personal development (read books, go to therapy, join a support group, whatever it is for you), and also to really listen to your body. Pay attention to the foods that serve you and the foods that don’t. Eat for your health. Our bodies are so incredible, they fight so hard for us, don’t we want to fuel it properly?

xo, Lyndsay

  • How do you get your mindset in alignment with your goals?
  • Was it easy for you, or a struggle? Share below in the comments! 🙂
Holistic Living Nutrition Personal

GAPS Diet Update – Week 3

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A couple weeks ago, I posted about my new nutrition plan and why I was doing it. As a recap, I am following a plan called the GAPS diet, which basically means my digestive system is not a happy camper. The past four months have been very stressful, which led to an excess of cortisol being released (stress hormone), sugar and refined carb cravings, poor nutrition, and then an overgrowth of candida.

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(Image Source)

Candida is a fungus/yeast that we all have a little bit of in our digestive systems. However, if it grows out of control, you get pretty scary symptoms. Since starting to detox from things like sugar, soy, dairy, gluten (grains), and refined carbs, these are the symptoms I have experienced:

  • hives (daily)
  • migraines (6 days in a row)
  • fatigue, no matter how healthy I eat
  • difficulty sleeping
  • abdominal/digestive pain/bloating
  • irritability, mood swings, depression
  • muscle pain, especially in my legs
  • weight gain
  • acne (I haven’t had acne in YEARS!!!!)
  • intense sugar and refined carb cravings

I could go on and on, but those are the ones that really stood out to me. It has been a rough 3 weeks! But I feel like I am finally getting over the hump of the worst part. I started a 21 day cleanse (through Herbalife), I’m taking a supplement called FloraFiber daily (probiotics), and I just ordered goldenseal root (to push the candida out) and another probiotic. I already feel so much better!! I definitely have a ways to go with getting healthy again, but I can already feel a difference, and it is soo comforting!

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(Image Source)

Sugar addiction and sugar detoxing are no joke. I was blaming myself for having a hard time cutting it out completely, but I was reassured that it really is my body that craves the sugar! It’s so similar to a drug addiction, it’s crazy. Did you know sugar is 8 times more addicting than cocaine? There was a study done on rats, and the rats chose the sugar over the cocaine every time.

Anyway, I feel like I’m rambling. I wanted to share a little bit of an update about this sugar detox since I know a few of you are following my updates (which I so so appreciate!!). If anything, I have totally learned how essential it is to truly take care of our bodies. Yes, I knew it was important before, but I feel like now, I have a deeper understanding of why we need to nourish our bodies with real food and get those toxins out through exercise. So many of us are living with poor gut health, and we don’t even realize it! I can’t stress enough how important it is to take care of our digestive system. 90% of our immune system is in our gut.

Healthy gut = happy life. 🙂

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Bipolar Disorder Fitness Nutrition Personal

Health Coaches Need Coaching, Too; My Struggle With Sugar Addiction

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As most of you are already aware, I am a health & fitness coach, and I also live with bipolar disorder. A couple weeks ago, I was talking with my psychiatrist, and he said to me,

“Lyndsay, you are always taking care of your clients and inspiring them. You’re taking care of the kids you babysit and the dogs you care for. It’s great, but let me ask you, who inspires you?“

A simple question, but it hit me hard. In that moment, I wanted to break down and cry. I absolutely LOVE what I do as a coach. The progress my clients make, the breakthroughs, helping others to live longer.. it’s absolutely amazing! I am in awe every day of how wonderful my clients and friends are. I love the feeling of being needed. I’m sure there is a specific reason behind that, but like Miss Maudie said in To Kill A Mockingbird, “All anyone wants is to feel needed.” My career brings me satisfaction, happiness, and hope.

But at the same time, I am giving all my energy to my clients, and completely neglecting myself. How can I be a good coach/mentor if I am not taking care of my mind and body? Who can I go to when I am not feeling strong? When I need inspiration, motivation, and help with my nutrition? Yes, I know a good amount about health, nutrition, and fitness, but I don’t know it all.

As much as I don’t want to admit this, I am going to, because honesty is incredibly important. Not only for the people you’re talking to, but also for yourself. I have a sugar addiction. Like a hardcore, legit, anxiety-fueled addiction to sugar. I have dealt with this on and off throughout most of my life, but when I get incredibly stressed, I lose control completely.

I have felt myself slowly spiraling out of control over the past two months. Poor nutrition, poor fitness, poor mental health. It is a vicious cycle. I feel sad/stressed, so I want to eat something that will release dopamine and endorphins, so I eat sugar (it’s comforting). But the comedown from that sugar causes me to feel depressed/anxious/stressed… and the cycle continues.

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This photo represents the cycle of addiction. Any addiction. Did you know sugar addiction is similar to heroin addiction? It is very, very real.

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This is specifically what happens in your body when you consume sugar. Endless, awful cycle.

You know how they say that people come into your life for a reason, and at the perfect time? It’s amazing! I was searching through blogs and stumbled upon Lifelong Wellness Coaching with Nellie Russell. I originally found her through her blog, Bipolar Out Loud, and saw that she offers mental health coaching. It’s something I’ve never considered, but something I definitely wanted to try. It’s similar to therapy, but I also get a meal plan catered to me and my physical/mental health issues.. plus Nellie has bipolar disorder as well, so she totally gets me. It’s a little different getting life coaching from someone who lives with what you live with, as opposed to someone who only studied it. Totally not discounting what therapists do, but it’s just a different experience.

My first session was tonight, and oh my gosh, I already feel like a new person. I have hope again. I don’t feel stressed (and I’ve been stressed ALL day.. hellooo taxes). It feels so good to allow myself to be the client, and to go into a coaching program with an open mind. I get so caught up in helping other people transform their lives (which again, I LOVE), that I forget to transform my own life. I am excited for what these sessions bring, and I am excited to improve my life. Physical and mental health go hand-in-hand, and it is time for me take full control of them both!

  • Have you ever dealt with any type of food addiction? If so, how did you get through it?
  • If you are a coach (or in any profession like it), how do you stay inspired? Who helps you?